Compare towns

Saco vs Hampton vs Gorham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureSacoHamptonGorham
People
Population
20,819Highest
16,426Lowest
18,300
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.9±1.5
15% above U.S.
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
16.7%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Gorham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,241±$11kLowest
14% above U.S.
$95,233±$9k
18% above U.S.
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$413,100±$17kLowest
24% above U.S.
$550,200±$39kHighest
65% above U.S.
$460,900±$26k
39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,249±$385Lowest
12% below U.S.
$1,628±$94
15% above U.S.
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
Gorham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,807Lowest
54% above U.S.
$6,813Highest
118% above U.S.
$4,825
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.3%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #38 of 133 in ME #31 of 120 in NH #24 of 133 in ME
School district Saco Public Schools Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Gorham Public Schools
High school in town None in town Winnacunnet High School Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.1Lowest
12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.